Sliding track for server chassis

ABSTRACT

A sliding track for a server chassis includes a first member and a second member. The first member and the second member are movable relative to each other through an anchor member, sliding in a guiding slot. The first member has a flange extended respectively from two ends so that when the second member is sliding relative to the first member, two ends of the second member are sliding on the flanges.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional application Ser. No. 60/684,982 filed May 27, 2005.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

The present invention relates to a sliding track and particularly to a sliding track, which has two members movable relative to each other through a guiding slot and an anchor member that are coupled in a sliding manner.

2. Related Art

A server chassis aims to hold a plurality of electronic devices in a layer manner. If one of the electronic devices is damaged, removing the damaged electronic device is difficult. Hence the present server chassis generally adopts a sliding track to overcome this problem. For instance, R.O.C. patent publication No. 570226 discloses an improved thin industrial computer chassis, which has a frame type track base positioned in a long axis, a track mounting onto the track base and a ball slot on a bucking surface between the track and the track base. The ball slot can hold a plurality of balls and allow the balls to be extended outwards to press the inner side of the track base without escaping. When the track is inserted into the track base, the balls are confined by the ball slot and roll in the ball slot. Thereby the track can slide in the track base.

The discussed structure of track and track base that are moved by rolling the balls on the track base is commonly adopted now. However, to keep the balls rolling in the ball slot involves complex and numerous elements. Fabrication time is longer and the cost is higher.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the aforesaid problems, the primary object of the invention is to provide a sliding track for a server chassis that has two members movable relative to each other through an anchor member and a guiding slot that are coupled in a sliding manner.

In order to achieve the foregoing object, the sliding track according to the invention includes a first member and a second member. The first member has a guiding slot. The second member has an anchor member, which is slidable in the guiding slot so that the first member and the second member are movable relative to each other.

The first member has a flange extended respectively from two ends so that when the second member is sliding relative to the first member, two ends of the second member are sliding on the flanges.

Thereby, during sliding of the first member relative to the second member, the flange and anchor member jointly provide support to achieve a steady sliding for the first member and the second member.

The invention also has a plurality of anchor holes formed on one side or two sides of the guiding slot. The second member has an elastic arm corresponding to the anchor holes with a bulged spot on one end, to latch on the anchor holes. Thereby, the total length of the first member and the second member can be adjusted easily.

Thus, the sliding track for the server chassis of the invention is simply structured, and can be assembled without additional elements. Fabrication time and cost may be reduced. It can improve the competitiveness of the product.

Further scope of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. However, it should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given in the illustration below only, and thus is not limitative of the present invention, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of the invention in an extended condition.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of the invention in a condition for adjusting the length.

FIG. 4 is a cross section taken on line A-A.

FIGS. 5 and 6 are schematic views of the invention in use conditions.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the sliding track 500 for the server chassis according to the invention is installed on a server chassis 100 to hold an electronic device 300, to facilitate removal of the electronic device 300, to do inspections and repairs.

The sliding track 500 includes a first member 510 and a second member 530. The first member 510 has a guiding slot 511, which has an aperture 513. The second member 530 has an anchor member 531 extended from one end. The anchor member 531 is formed like a mushroom, and has a top end 532 of a greater diameter. The top end 532 is coupled with a narrower bracing end 533. The top end 532 can pass through the aperture 513, and the bracing end 533 can slide in the guiding slot 511. Thereby, the second member 530 can slide relative to the first member 510 without separating during sliding (also referring to FIG. 4).

To increase the bracing strength of the first member 510, it has a flange 514 extended respectively from two ends. Hence, while the anchor member 531 of the second member 530 is sliding in the guiding slot 511, two sides of the second member 530 also are in contact with the flanges 514. Therefore, the bracing force of the anchor member 531 is distributed and shared. While the first member 510 and the second member 530 are sliding relative to each other, the flanges 514 of the first member 510 and the anchor member 531 of the second member 530 jointly share the bracing load to make sliding steadier.

In order to facilitate adjustment of the total length of the first member 510 and the second member 530, a plurality of anchor holes 512 are formed on the first member 510 on two sides of the guiding slot 511. The second member 530 has an elastic arm 534 corresponding to the anchor holes 512. The elastic arm 534 has a bulged spot 535 on one end to latch the anchor hole 512. When the first member 510 is moved by an external force, the bulged spot 535 escapes from the anchor hole 512 and is moved to latch a next anchor hole 512. Thereby the total length of the first member 510 and the second member 530 can be adjusted easily.

Refer to FIGS. 5 and 6 for the invention in use conditions. To move the electronic device 300 relative to the server chassis 100 through the sliding track 500, first, fasten the second member 530 to the server chassis 100. The first member 510 has an anchor plate 515 on one end to receive a screw bolt 310 to fasten the electronic device 300 to the anchor plate 515, so that the electronic device 300 and the first member 510 are movable together at the same time. Thus by means of the sliding track 500, the electronic device 300 can be slid relative to the server chassis 100.

In short, the sliding track for the server chassis of the invention is simply structured, and can load and unload an electronic device easily in and from a server.

Knowing the invention being thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are intended to be included within the scope of the following claims. 

1. A sliding track for server chassis, comprising: a first member and a second member, the first member having a guiding slot, the second member having a jutting anchor member on one end, the anchor member thread through the guiding slot and slidable therein thereby to allow the second member to slide relative to the first member.
 2. The sliding track for server chassis of claim 1, wherein the first member has a flange extended respectively from two ends thereof, the second member having two other sides slidable on the flanges.
 3. The sliding track for server chassis of claim 1, wherein the guiding slot has an aperture, the anchor member threading through the aperture to slide in the guiding slot.
 4. The sliding track for server chassis of claim 3, wherein the anchor member includes a top end and a bracing end, the top end being coupled with the bracing end and having a diameter greater than the bracing end, the top end threading through the aperture to allow the bracing end to slide in the guiding slot so that the second member is slidable relative to the first member without separating.
 5. The sliding track for server chassis of claim 1, wherein the first member has a plurality of anchor holes on one side of the guiding slot, the second member having an elastic arm corresponding to the anchor holes, the elastic arm having a bulged spot on one end to latch one of the anchor holes to facilitate adjusting of total length of the first member and the second member.
 6. The sliding track for server chassis of claim 1, wherein the first member has an anchor plate on one end to receive a screw bolt to fasten an electronic device to the anchor plate so that the electronic device is movable relative to the second member.
 7. The sliding track for server chassis of claim 1 further comprising a server chassis, the second member being installed on the server chassis such that the first member is movable relative to the server chassis. 